Saturday, June 7, 2025

Diary of Corporal John Worrell Northrop: Thursday, June 16, 1864

The man who was deprived of his hair yesterday had taken the oath of allegiance to the "C. S. A." He wished to get 200 names—had about 50—to make army shoes. His papers were taken and he was forced to swear not to assist the Rebels any more. The affair soon reached Capt. Wirz who sent a guard to escort the ex-Unionist outside and to arrest his assailants. He also ordered that no rations be issued until the man who shaved his head was apprehended. All honor to the brave man who shaved the Judas head.

Rather than that thousands of comrades be deprived of scanty rations for day, he bade farewell to friends and calmly reported at the gate, was taken out by the guard and locked up, refusing to divulge another name. After a thorough search for the others, rations were issued.

SOURCE: John Worrell Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 76

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